Cigarette package



Jan. 9, 1934.

-T.J. 'cg-urnar GIGARETTEPACKGE Filed Aug. 1'8, 1931 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to cigarette packages and more particularly to means for facilitating the removal of cigarettes therefrom after the original seal of the package is broken.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will prevent the escape of small particles of tobacco from the receptacle after the breaking of the seal and thereby avoid the spilling of same into the pocket of the user.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is so designed and constructed as to serve as an effective reinforcement for the through the receptacle 'showing the same in its normal sealed condition;

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-,3 of Figure 2:

Figure 4 is an inverted perspective view of the combined closure and reinforcing device; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section, showing the package after it has been opened.

The invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with cigarette packages of the kind characterized by a strip of tinfoil against one side of which is placed a paper wrapper, the latter being folded into receptacle form as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and contained within an outer wrapping of cellophane or the like.

In the accompanying illustration, 5 indicates the body of the receptacle made of tinfoil, 6 the outer paper wrapping, and 7 the cellophane covering. The strips of material from which the package is thus formed are generally brought together in the form of flaps A at the respective ends of the receptacle. It is common practice, after a package of this character has been supplied with cigarettes, to gain access thereto by mutilating the package near one corner. This is accomplished by running the nail of the index nger around the package until the plies of material 5, 6 and '7 are mutilated and sufliciently torn to permit portions of these plies to be manu- (Cl. 20G-41) ally flexed away from one end of the receptacle, thus forming a discharge opening 8, as illustrated erence to the dot-and-dash lines in Figure 2.n

After this is accomplished, the said aps A are folded over against the upper face of the stiffener and rmly secured thereto by adhesive and the package sealed for the market. The stiffener 9 is formed preferably from a single strip of cardboard scored transversely along the line l0, the saine running from one side thereof to the other. This sub-divides the member into a tilting portion 11 and a body portion 12. The tilting portion has secured thereto by adhesive or the equivalent thereof a single ply of paper or the like 13, the same extending from the front end of the portion 11 to a point rearwardly of the scored surface 10 so as to strengthen the joint at this point and prevent the portion 1l from accidentally separating from the portion 12 of the stiffener. At the opposite sides of the portion 11 are formed wings 14, 14, of identical formation. These wings are normally related to one another so that they extend outward or laterally for frictional engagement against the inner surfaces of the side walls of the receptacle. These wings are substantially of ovate configuration and, as illustrated, the forward portions 15 thereof occupy positions to the rear of the front edge of the hinge portion 11 of the stiifener.

I have now described the form and construction of a device which is normally sealed within the package and which functions to stilfen the package and materially reinforce same. The de4 vice follows the internal transverse contour of the package so as to snugly reside between the respective walls of the package. When it is desired to gain access to the package, the nail of the finger is made to penetrate the package at one corner so that the nail will come directly under one corner of the portion 11 and the latter is then forced upward so that the package will be torn along the lines A and B, B, and the portion 11 raised to the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. Said portion 11 has its swinging movement limited in one direction through the fact that the surfaces C, C, of the aforementioned wings 14, 14 contact with the adja-` cent side wall of the package. An opening 8 as aforementioned is now provided at the upper end of the package adjacent to one corner thereof and by means thereof access may be readily gained to the package to withdraw the cigarettes therefrom. The wings 14, 14, diverge relatively and in a downward direction, and same are sufficiently stiff to press against the front and back Walls of the receptacle so that the walls are materially strengthened. These wings also serve to slightly press the walls apart and to thereby relieve the pressure upon the cigarettes and enable the latter to pass out of the opening 8 with little difficulty. After a cigarette has been withdrawn from the package` the portion 11 is returned to its normal position, and it is desirable that it be pressed upon slightly to compel the edges thereof to contact with the inner surfaces of the adjacent Walls of the receptacle and thereby completely cover the opening 8 and prevent the escape of fine particles'of tobacco from the package when carrying the latter in the pocket or upon the person of the user. The wings 14, 14; also serve through their frictional engagement with the adjacent walls of the package to maintain a position of open adjustment of the portion 11 during the process of removing a cigarette from the package.

The strip of paper 13 above referred to entirely covers both sides of the tilting portion 11 and same is extended over the free front end of said portion so as to strengthen same and better facilitate engagement of the nail of the nger therewith at the time of opening the package.

I do not wish to limit myself to the kind of material employed in carrying the invention into practice but prefer the use of stiff cardboard because it is light, yet sufficiently strong for the purpose intended.

What is claimed is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a closure device for cigarette packages ofthe kind employing a wrapper of material capable of being torn by the hand for the purpose of gaining access to the cigarettes and a discharge of same from one end of the package; comprising a closure member characterized by a thin strip of sheet material having a surface thereof scored transversely, whereby to p1 `)vide a portion adapted to be angularly adjusted relative to another portion thereof; the said strip adapted to helpositioned at one end of the package and to lie beneath a portion of the wrapper of the package; and a pair of wings formed as a part of the strip and extending from the respective side edges of the rst said portion of the strip and adapted to be folded to positions at right angles 8E to said portion so as to be disposed against the inner faces of opposite sides of the package, the side edges of the said first named portion of the strip being projected to a point in advance of the wings so that same may be engaged by the finger nail when it is desired to angularly adjust said portion.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a closure device for cigarette packages of the kind employing a wrapper of material capable of being torn by the hand for the purpose of gaining access to the cigarettes and a discharge of same from one end of the package; comprising a closure member characterized by a thin strip of sheet material having a surface thereof scored transversely, whereby to provide a portion adapted to be angularly adjusted relative to another portion thereof; the said strip adapted to be positioned at one end of the package and to lie beneath a portion of the wrapper of the package; a pair of wings formed as a part of the strip and extending from the respective side edges of the rst said portion of the strip and adapted to be folded to positions at right angles to said portion so as to be disposed against 11( the inner faces of opposite sides of the package, the side edges of the said first named portion of the strip being projected to a. point in advance of the wings so that same may be engaged by the fingernail when it is desired to angularly adjust said portion; and a reinforcing material secured to the strip and folded over the front edge of said first named portion thereof and extending across the aforementioned scored surface.

THOMAS J. CHUTE. 

